a16z names privacy as top priority for 2026

Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm says that by 2026, privacy will become the defining factor differentiating blockchain networks. Once considered a secondary feature, privacy is now seen as essential, particularly for real-world adoption and the creation of lasting network effects.

In a blog post published on Tuesday, January 6, a16z crypto General Partner Ali Yahya said that privacy remains one of the biggest obstacles preventing global finance from fully moving onchain. Yahya, who previously worked at Google X and Google Brain on TensorFlow, noted that many blockchains still lack meaningful privacy capabilities despite years of development.

Yahya urged builders and users to prioritize privacy, arguing that it alone can set networks apart and help win back users. Unlike transaction speed and fees, which have largely converged across chains, privacy is the critical feature that will determine which blockchains achieve long-term relevance.

Yahya encourages individuals in the crypto ecosystem to embrace privacy 

In a statement, Yahya noted that, “Privacy also plays a more significant role: It encourages user loyalty; think of it as a privacy network effect.” According to him, transferring assets between public chains is easy, while bridging secrets is difficult.

He explained that transmitting data between public and private settings can leak details, such as the timeframe during which transactions occur and the amount transferred. This scenario, therefore, equips criminals with the necessary information to track users.

Consequently, Yahya claimed that such a situation increases the possibility that only a small number of privacy-centered chains control almost all real-world activities. The industry executive issued a warning that general-purpose blockchains without sustainable ecosystems or distribution benefits might decline in value as blockspace costs decrease towards zero.

As privacy becomes a heated topic of discussion in the ecosystem, analysts declare that the focus on privacy extends beyond just blockchain. To add up on this argument, Shane Mac, co-founder and CEO of XMTP Labs, anticipated in a16z crypto’s post that secure messaging will require both encryption and decentralization in the future. Mac made this prediction at a time when worries heightened regarding quantum computing.

To illustrate the intense nature of the situation, he highlighted a scenario in which encryption developed to withstand attacks is insufficient if messaging systems rely heavily on centralized servers that are vulnerable to hacking, pressure, or even shutdown.

His statement sparked tension among individuals, igniting debates about the matter. In an attempt to address this controversy, Yahya stressed that “private servers require ‘trust me’ — but without a private server, you don’t need to trust anyone.”

Afterwards, the industry executive called for open protocols as the preferred option since no single entity can control them, hence granting users full control over their identities and messages.

Abiodun proposes that secrets could become an essential element of the internet

Adeniyi Abiodun, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Mysten Labs, also commented on the situation. According to him, certain industries, such as healthcare and finance, require a highly secure method to control who can access confidential information, under what conditions, and for how long.

Abiodun pointed out some of the challenges faced by firms. Based on his analysis, without the implementation of built-in data access controls, industries are compelled to utilize centralized systems or develop custom solutions, which harm their operations. These effects include acting as a barrier to cooperation and dragging progress.

He proposed that secrets could become an essential element of the internet, provided there are programmable access rules, decentralized key management, and client-side encryption. As a result, this would bring about compliance and establish independent on-chain systems. 

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